Forty- two steep hills comprise the city of Valparaiso, fondly called “Valpo” by natives. We live on one of these hills, Cerro Bellavista. Other hills conjure romance with names like Concepcion, Alegre, Cordillera, San Juan De Dios, Mariposas and Florida. Each represents a neighborhood with its’ own special flavor.
Getting up and down the crowded hills of Valparaiso is a major undertaking. Here walking is really climbing. Long sets of winding steps weave up and down the hillsides giving the exhausted climber incredible views when stopping to catch a breath.
To ease the burden of the walkers of Valparaiso a series of funiculars were installed at the foot of many of the hills. A funicular is a railroad, especially effective on a mountainside, which is operated by cable with ascending and descending cars counterbalanced. Two giant pulleys hold the cable as it runs in a circle pulling one car up the hill while the other descends.
When one car goes up, the other comes down passing on the hillside.
Like most objects in Valparaiso, the cars are brightly painted with varying designs. The one you see here is a combination of a religious icon and a sort of “sunshine trolley” look featuring the hills of the city.
The funiculars are aging relics. Since the earthquake two years ago and even before that a number of them have closed due to non-repair. The wooden cars groan and lurch as they begin their journey and along the way. Not for the faint of heart.
As you approach the station at the top of the hill called “Artilleria” a big eye greets you. The extra sparkle lets you know you made it to the top one more time.
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